The most secure depository in the world is said to be that of Fort Knox.  It is operated by the United States Department of Treasury.  It seems to me and I’m no security expert, that the original three banks of downtown Jacksonville could have given Fort Knox a “run for the money” in terms of security back-in-the-day.

There are, at this moment still, in 2023, huge vaults under banks in downtown Jacksonville.  If you take the Gary Sass tour you can see at least two and actually walk inside of one of them.  Don’t close the door because if they can’t open some of the safes that have been there since 1877, they may not have the combination or key to the huge circular tumblers that open the vault.  On the tour you can walk under the city streets , in tunnels prepared for vault use in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by Jacksonville bankers.

It has been suggested that the vaults were so big, they were put in the ground first and the banks built on top of them. For years they were used to store three of the biggest banks in Florida’s money.  When the downtown Jacksonville boom burst, the vaults were left unoccupied and unused.

The Barnett Bank of Jacksonville opened on the corner of Forsyth and Main in 1877.   It would become the largest commercial bank in Florida with an excess of 600 offices and over $40 billion in deposits.  The buildings with vaults beneath them still stand.  

The Atlantic National Bank began in 1903.  Banking efforts have changed hands over the years and today it is called Wells Fargo.  

The Florida National Bank opened in 1905 which would become the 2nd largest bank in Florida at some point. All of those banks used the vaults for transferring money.

Through the years there have been many changes. There was the Great Fire of Jacksonville, Indian ‘wars, the Civil War, but one thing that has not changed is the huge vaults that once provided safe storage for the millions and millions and million of dollars, certificates and actual gold stashed in them for safety.  Of course, there is no money there(that we know of) but the vaults are safe.

The tour begins by going underground and walking through several tunnels.  The tunnels, for the most part look like office walls and walkways until you realize you’re under Forsyth Street, and then Julia Street and you look to see how the path goes down.

When you get to the end, you walk through a door to see a huge Diebold vault. This company was known for it’s security of money, valuables, records and more late in the 1880’s.   It’s truly an “ah ha” moment when you see the huge gold-bronze looking safe.  It makes you want see more, turn its tumblers and close the door.   In the vault area, are old lock boxes that individuals would rent, some that are still closed and no one knows the combinations or have keys to the century old relics. If confederate money is in there, there is no value anyhow. Right?

You’re encouraged to take the tour.  It’s worth the go-

See you tomorrow,

Nan

To schedule a tour: AdLib Luxury Tours

(904)827-1845

gary@adlibtours.com